Black Panther-Inspired Groups Re-emerge as U.S Unrest Grows
Last update: February 19, 2026
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Armed community groups surge as some fear US on brink of 'civil war'...
Armed activist groups inspired by the Black Panther Party re-emerged in parts of the United States, as they claimed protection of communities amid tensions over immigration enforcement and policing.
Chairman Paul Birdsong, who led the newly formed Black Lion Party, said the group believed defence of communities where members felt law enforcement had failed in protection of communities.
Footage reviewed by Reuters showed where Birdsong addressed supporters at a meeting, where firearms were displayed and members discussed martial arts and emergency medical training.
“We would hate to hurt anybody out of self-defence,” Birdsong said. “But we won’t be victimized by anybody, either.”
He added that he encourages people to legally arm themselves and seek training in self-defence and survival skills.
The revival came after raid by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sparked protests and counter-protests in cities like Minneapolis, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Recent confrontations followed two fatal shootings which involved immigration agents in Minnesota.
Supporters of President Donald Trump defended the administration’s enforcement measures, while critics argued the operations deepened divisions and heightened fears in immigrant communities.
Some neighborhoods declared themselves “ICE-free zones,” activists also erected makeshift barricades and checkpoints which restricted access.
Tim Walz compared the escalating tensions to Fort Sumter, the 1861 attack that marked the start of the U.S. Civil War. They warned that localised confrontations spiralled into broader conflict.
In recent weeks, White House border adviser Tom Homan oversaw a pullback of some federal operations in Minnesota, though the White House said immigration enforcement and deportations continued nationwide.
Veteran activist Dr. Saturu Ned, who joined the Black Panther movement in 1968 and now leads the Black Panther Party Alumni Legacy Network, cautioned against romanticizing the original movement.
“It was not glamorous,” he said. “It was scary. It was a learning process of staying the course despite everything that was going on.”
Analysts say the resurgence of militant rhetoric reflects deep political polarization in the United States, where debates over policing, immigration and civil rights continue to intensify.
